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Tuesday's letters: Provide modern jets for Snowbirds

Author of the article:

Edmonton Journal

Publishing date:

May 19, 2020 • 2 minute read

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team fly over Edmonton on Friday May 15, 2020. They were on a cross-Canada mission dubbed Operation Inspiration to salute Canadians doing their part to fight the spread of COVID-19.Larry Wong/ Postmedia

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With the tragic news of the Snowbird crash in a residential neighbourhood outside Kamloops, it is worth noting that these exceptionally skilled pilots who inspire Canadians are flying obsolete planes built in the 1960s.

Perhaps it’s time to provide them with state-of-the-art jets built in this century so that when something goes wrong, their parachutes have a chance of saving their lives at lower altitudes after ejection.

Tuesday's letters: Provide modern jets for SnowbirdsBack to video

Taxpayers losing faith in city

Edmontonians share the outrage of Mr. Porteous over city projects going offside in terms of cost and functionality. I would add to the list of failed projects, the $91-million composting operation.

Was anyone sued over this debacle? These were tax dollars that people had to earn and entrust to the city. That trust is lost when the property tax bills are paid and ratepayers learn that the money is gone. For too long, the city has taken for granted the hard work that goes into these tax dollars with no proper explanation when $91 million goes down the drain.

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What we need is transparency and accountability, not excuses that the matter cannot be discussed. When will the citizens get answers?

Chris and Jomha Skrobot, Edmonton

Return Canadians jailed in China

I suggest Canada arrange a trade with China. Two panda bears for two Canadian men held hostage. We want them back as much as China wants their pandas back.

Jim Holowchak, Edmonton

UCP shifting costs to municipalities

Throughout the pandemic, municipalities have been providing services to a large number of Albertans, including some of the most vulnerable in the province. At the same time, they are facing an unprecedented financial crisis, forcing them to undertake major layoffs.

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The UCP government needs to recognize the challenges that municipalities face, and restore some level of certainty for them. The best way to do this would be to re-establish the City Charters Fiscal Framework, which was developed by the NDP government in collaboration with the cities of Calgary and Edmonton.

When the UCP government scrapped this equitable, collaborative project, they signalled their intention to use municipalities as a way to download costs, responsibilities, and tax burdens. This is hindering municipalities from playing their critical role in our province’s prosperity and economic development.

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Alberta is facing unprecedented challenges that require bold action — empowering municipalities, as our government was doing, would be a significant step forward.

Joe Ceci, MLA for Calgary-Buffalo,municipal affairs critic

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com

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